Julie Ann Art

Time for What's Next

2015-06-24T14:09:00.000-07:00

My dear blogspot readers....

The time has come to move this blog. It may not be the smoothest transition but at this point in my business it has to be done!

I am so so happy that my new site is live, and it includes my new blog. I'm excited to be able to combine my blog with my e-commerce site and give buyer's the opportunity to purchase directly through me. Don't get me wrong, I love Etsy, obviously. But the opportunity to have complete control over my shop, and my business, has been such a long time coming. Today is definitely a day worth celebrating for me!

For those of you who have followed this blog through Bloglovin, I hope you will be sure to come on over and follow my new blog HERE. (Same blog, same talks, just a different space!)

Thank you for your continuous support. Ya'll are truly the best! xo JA

Love it or hate it, Etsy is thriving

2015-01-21T09:03:00.002-08:00

Anyone have the app Timeshop? Handy little app that shows you your daily posts on social media in previous years (all the way back to nine years ago when I was in college...some stuff should just be left unseen...). Yesterday I got the notification of a post I shared on Facebook two years ago. I had been listed on Craftcount as one of the "top daily sellers". (Woooo!) This sparked my interest and I visited the site once again to see how the top sellers compared to two years ago. I noticed a huge difference immediately.

The sales counts.

Such growth in sales shown over this two year period! And this comes during a time of, dare I say... Etsy bashing?

Etsy's decision to allow third-party manufacturing, followed by an announcement to "go public" has seemed to create an uproar among sellers (and even non-sellers). For months now I have been hearing "I'm leaving Etsy." "Etsy is going downhill." "Etsy sold out." "Etsy did this." "Etsy did that."

I have bit my tongue a lot as I watched the internet bash the site I built my business on. But.... the proof is in the fucking numbers. And the numbers say that Etsy is thriving.

My first year on Etsy I made $608. I was not always (and am still not always) lucky enough to make the "top daily sellers" list on Craftcount. I sold on Etsy for years before quitting my day job. I do not always agree with every single change Etsy makes (working there seriously has to be the hardest job).

But I have so much love for the site. For the opportunity that it has given me, and thousands of other people. I do not blame it for my downfalls, just as I do not praise it for my successes. The blame and praise are on me. But I am proud to be an Etsy sellers, and I am happy to see it continuing to flourish because I know that, in some small way, I contributed to that success.

Podcast: Elise Gets Crafty

2015-01-08T08:46:00.000-08:00

I was so excited when I was asked to speak about running an online business on Elise Gets Crafty. It is a podcast that I listen to myself, so being a guest was such an honor! Elise was really easy to talk to so she definitely calmed my nerves (for the most part!).

This also helped me continue my efforts to get more comfortable with "public" speaking. I do feel, in general, that the more time I spend outside my comfort zone, the easier these experiences are for me. And honestly, they make me want to do them more!

You guys can listen in on our conversation here. I'd love to hear what you think! xo JA

New Valentine's Cards + Giveaway

2015-01-07T07:00:00.000-08:00

Just popping in today to say that new valentines have hit the shop! I had a lot of fun designing these and I really hope you like them.

(Please disregard the poor quality blog photos. Believe it or not, some people like to steal photos off the internet) ;]

Now that these are released I feel completely prepared and ready to tackle my busiest time of year. Sure, I'm moving in the next month, but I'm choosing to not think about that right now. Right now is about the busiest, craziest, most overwhelmingly amazing month for my business. Let's do this!

I also wanted to offer up a $25 Etsy Gift Card for one of you to win! Interested? Just share a picture of your Julie Ann Art purchase on Instagram with #julieannart and @julieannart and you'll be entered to win! The giveaway runs until Valentine's Day, Feb. 14th, 2015. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted through Instagram. Good luck!

Happy Valentine's season!! xo JA

Our Wedding Reception

2015-01-05T18:09:00.004-08:00

It was damn near impossible to narrow down these pictures, so this post is gonna be a big one! We left off with our wedding portraits that we took while our guests mingled and played corn-hole during cocktail hour.

We had a sparkler entrance to the reception while the DJ played Passion Pit - I'll Be Alright. Leave it to my husband to give our guests 3 FOOT sparklers. They glowed foreverrrr. But it created a pretty amazing ambiance for what came next...our first dance to Owl City - Meteor Shower.

I will never forget this moment. Being surrounded by everyone, the sparklers, the song, my new husband....I felt so much love. Couldn't hold back the tears.

Our favors were wooden buttons with our wedding logo on them. J and his groomsman wore them as boutonnieres and we wanted our guests to feel like "part of the party." Special thanks to my friend Nikki for making them for us!

We had what we referred to as a "get festive" table. It had face paint, tattoos, flower crowns, and glow necklaces to continue the theme of getting our guests getting involved and having fun. It was awesome seeing our guests completely embrace the concept. Even Granny was rocking a glow necklace!

And there may have been one line dance, in honor of my country bar days in Michigan. Always fun to reminisce on that with my girls.

A wedding selfie obviously has to happen.

The snow machine was an unexpected surprise for our guests and it was just SO FUN. The day had been about 100 degrees so seeing "snow" falling from the sky was basically magical. At one point J and I were dancing in a circle and I just remember looking up and remembering to take in this moment.

We ended the evening with a pool jump. This was another concept our guests were so happy to embrace (some with just a little extra coaxing). We headed back to our adobe hut shoe-less, dripping wet and cold, but happier than ever.

It was the best day.

I also just want to say thank you so much to all our amazing vendors! (Photography: Heather Saunders Photography, Makeup: Brie Does Makeup, Coordinator: Vanessa Noel Events, Signs + boutonnieres: Delovely Details, Dress: Grace Loves Lace, Belt: BHLD, Robe: Silkandmore, Suit: JCrew, Neckwear: Accents, Invitations: DIY)

And in case you missed them, you can check out our wedding ceremony, and our wedding portraits.

xo JA

The End of 2014

2015-01-02T09:35:00.002-08:00

I was thinking the other day that I missed blogging. The last month has been a tough one and even my presence on social media has been a bit lacking. The truth is that I was having a hard time finding anything worth sharing.

My days have been not been the happiest lately. My thoughts are stress-ridden. Any time I tried to post on Twitter nothing positive came out. So I would delete my drafted tweets and just keep trying to truck on.

I am thankful that business is good but there's a lot going on in my life that is making it hard to feel happy. The most recent thing (the straw that broke the camels back) was that we are being forced to vacate our house. It is a long story but I am in complete shock that this is how that story will end.

J and I have made this our home for the last four years and I am absolutely heart-broken that we have to leave. I have never had such an emotional attachment to a place I have lived before. It feels like a break up.

We have until February 15th to find a new place. The thought of trying to move during my busiest season makes me want to start crying all over again. It will all work out right? It's just a house. It is what is inside it that makes it a home.

We decided to stay in on New Years Eve. It was the first year we didn't do something to celebrate, and the first year we didn't mind doing so. The saying "all you need is love" comes to mind... I don't know if I completely believe that saying but right now I do feel like J and I will get through these grey skies because we have each other. Him and Penny are what make this my home. Regardless of where we go, and what we face, I'm thankful I have him to see us through it.

I think I'm close to the end of my 'grieving' period and ready to look forward to what is next. Not just in where we live, but what is next for my business. I'm getting ready to kick off my Valentine's Day line and then I'd love to take some time to learn something new. Maybe crochet? Any crocheters out there? I miss hobbies. A new hobby should be one of my 2015 goals.

Do you make new goals at the beginning of each year? On the plane ride home from our Christmas trip to Michigan I took some time to make a list. I never really took New Years resolutions seriously, but I think that is changing due to getting older and running a business. I made both personal and work goals and hope I make progress on all of them in 2015!

Happy New Year you guys! Hope you're doing well! xo JA

Cyber Monday Sale

2014-11-30T15:00:00.000-08:00

Hey friends! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving! Ours was pretty laid-back and I loved it. And of course, that allowed me to prep for what is basically the biggest sale weekend of the year, huh? Did you go Black Friday shopping? I am one of those people who swears off Black Friday shopping (unless I can do it online). Maybe one day when I have kids and want to buy them good presents I will try it, but right now buying things is just not a priority. I'm much more interested in selling things. And on that note!....

I'm having a prettyyy huge sale for you guys! All greeting cards are buy one, get one free! It's time to stock up because a deal this good doesn't happen often. You can shop here!

What Cyber Monday sales are you taking advantage of today? Any good ones you have found? Besides mine. Obviously. :p

xo JA

Making Time For Yourself

2014-11-24T10:39:00.000-08:00

I'll admit, the last couple weeks have been pretty intense. Blah blah blah, we're all busy right? Especially this time of year! Sometimes it's hard not to get wrapped up in work all the time, especially when that daunting to-do list is staring at you (or emails can access you any time thanks to that smart phone that never leaves your side. GUILTY!).

In an effort to work more efficiently (therefore creating more free time for myself!) I've been trying to quickly recognize distractions I accidentally get caught up in. With most of my work being internet-based I've realized how easy it is to click on a link..and then another link..and then another link. Before I know it I'm reading Buzzfeed's 87 Things To Blah Blah Blah. Oops.

Quickly nipping a distraction in the ass helps me to get the job done quicker. And if I just really need a break from work I try to make my 'internet surfing' into something that could also be considered productive (Ex: pinning on Pinterest or reading blogs).

This past weekend I got to put on a pink lip, curl my hair (yes, I curled my hair right before these photos were taken. That's how great my hair is at holding a curl...), and have a fun brunch date with J. It was quick, and I returned to work when I got home, but it was so important for my overall mood to get out of the house and enjoy the little things. And if I start to feel overwhelmed, I remind myself of those little moments.

Also....this gorgeous bag I'm sporting? It's Nena and Co. We collaborated on a fun giveaway and one lucky winner will win their very own Nena and Co. bag, along with some Julie Ann Art goodies! Their bags are to.die.for so head on over to Instagram to enter!! xo JA

Lately

2014-11-12T08:39:00.000-08:00

Lately I've been:

- Trying to find a new work out routine. I just recently stopped going to cardio barre, not because I don't like it but because it's just so expensive. Since I have developed a habit of working out regularly I want to see if I can discipline myself to exercise without a scheduled class. I'll keep you posted. ;]

- Looking for new Christmas ornaments. Any suggestions? I want some that are not, well, Christmasy. Nothing red. Nothing sparkly. More earthy and neutral

- Rocking my new Oh So Antsy earrings! They are hand-cut (Hand-cut!!! With a saw!! Boggles my mind!) state earrings, and I had to get one of California and one of Michigan obviously. I'm such a sucker for a unique stud earring and these are absolutely perfect for me. Want to snag a pair for a Christmas gift? JAA readers get free shipping with the code JAASHIPFREE. Aw shit!

-Trying to stay on top of everything. It's a busy time of year! Lots going on and I'm just doing the best I can over here. I use my busy bitch notepad every day and I have to say, it may be my favorite new product. Love checking off things on my list when I've completed them!

-Preparing for holiday shows! My first one is this weekend and as of today....I'm not ready yet. :] If you live in SoCal mark your calendar for these shows:

Queen Bee Market

Oceanside, CA

Nov. 14+15

Twig + Willow Trunk Show

Long Beach, CA

Nov. 29 (11am-3pm)

Unique LA

Los Angeles, CA

Dec. 6+7

Renegade LA

Los Angeles, CA

Dec. 13+14

Gonna be a busy season! Stressful and yet I can't wait! How are you feeling about the holidays? Ready? Stressed? Excited? xo JA

Our Wedding Portraits

2014-11-05T08:35:00.000-08:00

Our wedding venue was pretty out in the middle of nowhere (part of what sparked our interest in it) so after the ceremony we didn't have to venture far to take some portraits together. Being wedding videographers ourselves, we knew how important it was to make time for pictures of just the two of us at the right time of day (not too sunny!) so we had no problems sneaking off for a bit to get some shots.

Our photographer, Heather, actually came out for our wedding from Michigan. I freelanced for her when I lived there and ever since then I knew I wanted her to shoot my wedding one day. I had complete trust in her and knew she would capture our day in a photojournalistic style. Nothing too posed, no props, just natural.

So portraits were easy and it was a great opportunity for us to relax for a second and let things sink in. "Omg we're married!! Omg I totally lost it during vows! Omg I can't wait to eat! Omg I love you!!!"

"Omg this is so fun, I can't wait for what's next!"

What was next? Sparklers? Snow? Pool jump?

Yes. Yes. Yes.

It really was the best, most fun day of my life.

Stay tuned!

(Photography: Heather Saunders Photography, Makeup: Brie Does Makeup, Coordinator: Vanessa Noel Events, Boutonniere: Delovely Details, Dress: Grace Loves Lace, Belt: BHLD, Suit: JCrew, Neckwear: Accents)

Feeling Excited

2014-11-03T09:01:00.002-08:00

Over the past couple weeks I have been tackling odds and ends to prepare for the release of the holiday line (today!!!). Somewhere between brainstorming promotional ideas and packaging a stock pile, I realized something...I felt something. Excitement. It was in that moment that I realized I hadn't felt that way in a while. Admittedly, sometimes work is just....work.

But as I continued to check off my to-do list as it got closer and closer to launch day, the anticipation built and I just could not wait to be able to share what I had been working on. Keeping things under wraps is hard. But it's also really inspiring to diligently prepare for something over a long period of time.

The time of year helps this feeling too, doesn't it? As the weather gets cooler and Christmas gets closer, there's something so significant about staying in and being productive. (Just remind me of that in the middle of January when it's high Valentine's season, will ya?)

The new holiday line features new holiday cards, along with some fun packaging stickers. And of course we can't forget...

I'm so excited to finally be able to share all these new goodies with you! You can view it here. I hope you find something to share (or use yourself!) this holiday season. And I'd love to hear thoughts! xo JA

Halloween 2014

2014-10-29T09:28:00.001-07:00

I'm all like 'bitch please....just try to catch me.'

Did you know the technical term for J's costume is a Lepitopterist?
Yeah, we Googled that shit.

Thanks so much for all the love you have given our couples costumes over the years!

You make dressing up for Halloween even more fun!

xo JA + J

JAA is hiring!

2014-10-27T08:46:00.002-07:00

Hey guys! I'm looking for a part-time studio assistant to join me for the upcoming winter months (and possibly longer!). Basically I need someone to help me stay on top of my shit, while in the company of a cute dog and good tunes. ;]

Job Details: packaging stock, processing orders, product development
Compensations: BOE
Hours: 5-10 hours per week (day time, no weekends)
Location: Costa Mesa, CA

Ideal candidate is punctual, takes initiative, and pays great attention to detail. Experience in photography, design or marketing is a plus!

This position is ultimately what you make of it. I'm hoping to find some one who is interested in growing long-term with JAA. If you or someone you know lives in SoCal and may be interested in this position, please e-mail your resume to julie AT julieannart DOT com.

Caramel Apple Bar

2014-10-22T08:16:00.000-07:00

We are getting ready for our 2nd annual pumpkin carving party, happening this weekend. We have been decorating, working on our costumes, and planning our menu. One thing I always loved about Fall was apple picking with my family and getting cider and caramel apples at the orchard. I thought it would be so fun to have a caramel apple bar at our party!

Toppings are completely customizable to suit your taste but here is what I included:

Sauces: Caramel, Peanut Butter, Fudge
Toppings: Peanuts, Sprinkles, Mini Chocolate Chips, Marshmallows

What do you like on your apples? I'm a caramel and peanut kind of girl, but I did scoop up some peanut butter with chocolate chips after I took these photos. You really can't go wrong!

What do you like to eat to get into the spirit of Fall?

Completing Challenges

2014-10-21T08:13:00.000-07:00

I had a little video shoot up in LA on Friday. While it's too soon to share the details of the actual shoot, I still wanted to share my experience while it was fresh on my mind. Quite frankly, it was extremely challenging, most likely the most challenging thing I've had to do so far for my job.

When the opportunity presented itself I knew that I had to do it. But the thought of it was so scary and it was extremely easy to doubt my ability to do it. I wasn't right for this, I don't deserve this, I'm not qualified enough for this. I'm just me.

A script was sent to me the night before the shoot. Panic set in. J talked me out of my pile of self-doubt a bit, reminding me that they picked me for a reason. While this tided over my fears a little bit, they were back full force the morning of the shoot.

When I arrived at the studio I was put in a makeup chair. My hair was put in a ponytail, peach lipgloss was put on my lips, a jean jacket was added to my outfit. Then it was time to go to.....the set. I walked into the room and definitely said "holy shit" out loud to myself. The room had at least 12 people in it. A lot on laptops, some with cameras, lights, headphones, etc.

Holy shit.

A mic was immediately added to the band of my jeans. It felt like a phone in my back pocket and I kept mindlessly grabbing at it out of habit. I was guided to the table I would be sitting at, two cameras on me, lights, so many pairs of eyes I wanted to vomit right there. I immediately blurt out "First timer! Just want to put that out there!" as some sort of awkward disclaimer so they know I'm likely going to suck. I wasn't a youtuber, I didn't do vlogs (but maybe I should so I get more comfortable with that sort of thing?), I was inexperienced, and I was a mess.

We had two shooting sessions, one before lunch and one after. The session before lunch was pretty brutal. I was flubbing lines, moving around too much, not being "natural" enough. The whole "be yourself but say these specific things you wouldn't naturally say" thing is not easy for me.

And all those eyes....

When we took a break for lunch a lot of the people on set were encouraging. We did some more practice runs to try to make me feel more comfortable. And it did work, somewhat. At least during our second sessions, if I messed up (I kept saying "virgin" instead of "version"....awkwarddd) I would just laugh at myself instead of feeling like I wanted to die inside.

I guess the point is that I did it. I challenged myself. I took an opportunity even though it was scary. Even though the entire experience was extremely hard for me, I knew I wanted to blog about it.

As small business owners or internet personalities or bloggers, it is easy to give off this "idea" of what we are like, what our life is like. It's just too easy to make assumptions based on what one chooses to share publicly.

But I do not have it all figured out, I'm not good at everything. The truth is that we all have our flaws. We all don't always have perfect hair. We all don't always look stylish. We all don't always succeed. We all struggle. And I feel like that is just as important to share as our triumphs are.

Our Wedding Ceremony

2014-10-20T09:15:00.000-07:00

We got married at the 29 Palms Inn in Twentynine Palms, California on May 17th, 2014. I had heard so many say it would be the best day of my life, and well, they were right.

I absolutely love our venue and we are already talking about going back (it's also a hotel). It is a bit out in the middle of nothing, circling around an oasis, and there are so many unique quirks and details. It was like no venue we had ever seen before (being wedding videographers, we have seen our fair share) so we knew it would be the perfect place to celebrate our day.

Jordan and I woke up together the day of our wedding. Since we were doing a first look before our ceremony we didn't see the need to "hide" from each other for the majority of the day. Plus, if I had spent the night alone in our two bedroom hut I probably would have gotten NO sleep whatsoever. So we woke up to each other with the thoughts of "omg it's our wedding day!!!"

As the girls were getting ready in our adobe hut, I felt relaxed. Which is crazy. I am unfortunately rather anxiety-ridden and I am so so thankful I felt at ease the entire day (except perhaps the few minutes leading up to the ceremony when I was like omgomg it's happening). Even my mom and friends took note of my chill attitude.

(I mean, is he the cutest or what?)

Our first look. (Tee hee) This moment is a blur, all I really remember is J saying "Let's do this already. I wanna do this!!"

Can we talk about how it was hot as hell? The weekend before we got married was 20 degrees cooler than our wedding weekend. Temperatures were pushing three digits for us. Just a couple days leading up to our wedding we rented a couple industrial misting fans and they did wonders for keeping our guests cool. We kept our bridal party photos limited since it was during the hottest part of the day, but everyone was good sports!

The walk down the aisle.....the music, the way the light was shining down...I won't forget it. I met J's eyes and didn't look away. I remember my dad leaning in and saying "This is your moment." There were tears, of course.

More tears. I swear I probably kept it together for one little sentence and then it was all waterworks. I also remember all the waterworks giving me quite the runny nose but I wasn't about to straight up blow my nose during our wedding ceremony so I was repeatedly sniffling. Sexy bride, let me tell ya.

And we did it! So happy! So fun sharing a glimpse into our special day with you guys! Next up I will share our reception photos. It was quite the party if I do say so myself. *cough* snow machine *cough*

Let me know if you have any questions or if you want to see something I didn't share.

(Photography: Heather Saunders Photography, Makeup: Brie Does Makeup, Coordinator: Vanessa Noel Events, Signs + boutonnieres: Delovely Details, Dress: Grace Loves Lace, Belt: BHLD, Robe: Silkandmore, Suit: JCrew, Neckwear: Accents, Invitations: DIY)

DIY Craft Show Fabric Sign (No Sew!)

2014-10-16T15:20:00.000-07:00

I am already getting excited for upcoming holidays shows! I have been thinking a lot about my ways to improve my display and make it more festive for the holiday season.

I've had my mind on a sort of "table runner sign" to add on top of my current beige table cloth. Upon looking online, I couldn't find something that was a) exactly what I was envisioning and b) a price I was willing to pay. No worries, it was time to DIY it up! It has been far too long since I got a little crafty.

I chose to make a black sign since it is such a big color in my product and branding. I also thought it would help break up the use of beiges and wood shades that my display is currently made up of. But you can really use any color you would like to match your branding! Here's what you'll need:

Supplies:

Fabric paint (color of your choice)

Paper

Printer

Exacto knife

Fabric - roughly 3 ft by 9 ft (I cheated on this, read below!)

Spray Adhesive (Repositionable kind)

Let's talk about the fabric for a second. I am not the brightest sewer in the....sewing class? This bitch can't sew. And the thought of buying cut fabric from JoAnn's gave me anxiety. So I totally cheated. I bought a single black curtain from Target. Yep. Then I folded the edges of the curtain into the size I wanted and secured that shape using fabric tape. So it's up to you, how comfortable you are with sewing. I decided this was the easiest route for me and it actually worked out quite well.

To create the stencil I printed my logo out on a large piece of paper. If you don't have a wide format printer you can get a larger copy of your logo from Staples or Kinkos. Then I used an exacto knife to cut out the letters. Don't forget to have something underneath the paper that the exacto knife can slice into!

When your stencil is created it's time to secure it to the fabric using spray adhesive. Following the directions on the spray adhesive can, I sprayed the paper with a single coat and then lightly pressed it onto the fabric. This will allow you to remove the paper from the fabric once we are done using the stencil.

With the stencil in place, I used a foam brush to blot the paint over the stencil. Be careful to move the brush straight up and straight down, not on an angle. Once you have covered the entire stencil, give it a few minutes before removing it from the fabric. I continued to let my fabric lay still and dry overnight.

And there you have it! A custom logo sign made out of a damn curtain. Pretty happy with it if I do say so myself!

How do you make improvements to your booth display? xo JA

Lately

2014-10-16T08:19:00.000-07:00

Hi friends! I've been thinking about this blog so much the past week or so. Seeing it mentioned on my 'to do' list, wanting to get to it, but just so consumed by other things that have a higher priority (or a more critical deadline).

Yesterday was a bit stressful, and found myself drinking a rum and coke around 3:00pm. (But at least it had a sweet ass skull straw so it was basically like I was getting festive for the upcoming holiday. Totally ok right?)

I had a few fires to put out. It's all taken care of now but a part of me wanted to cry yesterday. It's weighing more and more on me lately, just how much running a business entails. It's so much more than getting that product sold and out the door. The e-mails, the inquiries, the issues, the decisions. Every single aspect is something I have to handle, and it's starting to weigh on me. I blame this mostly on my indecisiveness. I can't make a damn decision to save my life. Working on it.

This week I also had a scare with Penny. She was really sick on Monday and it definitely distracted me from getting anything done. Thankfully she is back to her normal self, though I'm not sure what caused the problems. I suspect it may have something to do with her blanket eating tendencies.

I've been getting the house decorated for Halloween. I don't know why, but for some reason I get more and more into decorating this time of year. I don't remember being like this in Michigan and I'm wondering if it, in a way, is me over-compensating for the lack of seasons in California. Like I'm yearning for that feeling and maybe making my house festive will help. We are having our pumpkin carving party next weekend so I'm getting excited for that as well!

(Could NOT pass these beauties up at the store last weekend. Have you ever seen a sunflower so wild?)

What about you? Do you decorate for Halloween? What about costumes? You know ours are in the works of course! I am also on the hunt for some new "fall-ish" recipe ideas as well, if you have any recommendations I'd love to hear them! xo JA

Paper Camp

2014-10-01T08:30:00.001-07:00

Paper Camp was fantastic. With a focus on wholesale, the National Stationery Show, and sales reps, I knew this conference would be exactly what I needed. It was so informative and helpful. The speakers were genuine, gracious and friendly. I met so many great women in the industry who I'm happy to call new friends now.

My mind is still taking in all the information from the weekend. What I really need to figure out (and I'm the only one who can) is if NSS and/or sales reps are the right step for my business. It some ways it seems like the obvious choice for further growth, but at the same time I question if it is the right choice for me.

I'm fortunate to have an online shop and a humble amount of wholesale accounts that already keep me quite busy. I'm proud to have grown my business to where it is today on my own. That said, I'm not sure I alone will be able to stay on top of the work that comes along with bigger future goals.

I would need to hire help. That's scary! I have thought about this for a long time but it has always overwhelmed me. Hearing everything this weekend though, made it even more apparent that to grow the business I will need to grow, well, a team.

The time will come eventually.

How do you pursue growth and change? Does it come naturally to you or do you find it scary?

A Big Bear Weekend

2014-09-23T15:58:00.001-07:00

This past weekend I headed to Big Bear Lake with J and my closest friends to celebrate my birthday. It's actually not till this coming weekend but I will be nerding out at Paper Camp then so we pretended I turned 30 a week early. It was so much fun!

J planned it all and let me just say, that guy knows me. He put this Michigan girl in a boat on a lake, complete with friends, drinks, and even fishing! I felt right at home. :]

Penny girl stole the show of course.

Big Bear Lake is so beautiful. It is surrounded by tree-covered mountains. And I commented on the sky like ten times. It's just so blue and clear with the whitest puffy clouds! Just beautiful.

I felt spoiled the whole weekend. My friends went way beyond, with decor and cake, even a birthday tiara. I'm so thankful to have found great friends in California. My move here didn't start out easy but I finally feel at home, surrounded by people I love.

Next up, I leave Thursday for Paper Camp (I feel so dorky every time I say that) to get my ass all prepared for the National Stationery Show 2015. Yeah you heard me. Big goals in process for JAA. Wish me luck! xo JA

Chicago Renegade Craft Fair

2014-09-11T08:47:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! I am slowly getting caught up from my 4-day weekend in Chicago (Isn't it funny how quickly one can go from slow sales to too busy?). Chicago was pretty intense! I had heard it was a big show and it sure was!

It was hot and crowded. I ran out of a lot of stock. I felt exhausted and anxious the majority of the trip. I think the amount of work that shows are (especially two-day travel shows) can be underestimated.

All that aside, it was still really exciting! It's so amazing to have the opportunity to travel with my work and try to reach new audiences. I love getting to meet blog readers and Instagram followers!

I also have to give a shout out to my boothmate and friend Gina for helping me along the way. It is likely I would have gotten lost or had a panic attack if she wasn't there to talk me through it!

And I just wanted to give a shout out to Signazon! They printed my custom design through their new sisterbrand Easy Banners. I had a lot of people mention that my banner is what "pulled them in" to the booth so I'm so glad I ordered it before the show!

Now I'm looking forward to a weekend of NO plans! No traveling! Just doing whatever I feel like with my husband and dog. Sounds like heaven.

What's new with you? On top of things? Catching up?

Two Years Self-Employed

2014-08-29T09:19:00.001-07:00

It has officially been two years since I quit my day job. I remember my last day of work, driving out of the parking lot, windows down, music up, the "holy shit, I'm doing this" feeling. The truth is, I still have that feeling. Sure, over the past two years I have developed a bit of a schedule, my days are often routine, going from one thing to the next. But I'm still doing it for myself. By myself (except my wonderful assistant, Mo, who comes about once a week to help process wholesale orders). Just that thought is still exhilarating to me. I am doing this.

Thinking about how this anniversary was coming, I looked back at some old blog posts. I read about the day I quit my day job, and even my first day of self employment. (Which, by the way (tangent), can I just say that my whole "getting dressed every morning" probably lasted a week or so? I had read this as a suggested tip for people who are self employed, and you know what I say about that now? Fuck it. Where whatever you want. Where what you feel comfortable in. Why would I sit at a computer screen in jeans with the band digging into my stomach all tight when I could be wearing pajama shorts? Why put on makeup when I have no one to impress? Maybe it's just me, but instead of telling you what you should wear, or even DO, throughout self employment....I'm saying this. Do whatever makes you feel good. For me, that is comfy pants and no makeup. And then, when a date night comes or a big event, and I DO get schmancy, well it feels extra special.

Ok, done with that tangent, sorry. :p

Anyways, it was fun to read over the beginning and the milestones over the past two years. While I feel like there is so much more out there to accomplish, I do feel like I have conquered some things I wouldn't have imagined, like traveling out of state for a craft show, or speaking at a blogging event, or that time I was on TV. (Still, WHAT??)

There is a sense of pride but there is also the fear of it all ending. While fear too often can hold people back, I also believe fear can drive us, if we let it. I have some big things I'm reaching for in the future and while I'm pretty terrified at the thought, I do it anyways. Just last night actually, I "went for" something big, texted my girls all "omgomg." Fingers crossed it works out, but if it doesn't, I can at least say I went for it, despite my fears.

Thanks for hanging out with me these last two years (or more!!). xo JA

An Arizona Weekend

2014-08-25T20:52:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! I'm back from my trip to Phoenix. I was gone Friday-Sunday so Monday was a bit crazy/stressful/rough as I struggled to catch up. Phoenix was fun though! There was a great turnout at The Shine Project, where I had my little pop-up shop. It was also fun just chatting it up with Ashley. What an inspiration, that girl, let me tell ya.

One of my best friends from Michigan, Adam, lives in Phoenix now so I got to spend some time with him as well. I love spending time with old friends. It makes me remember the "old days" and my "roots." I sure love where I came from.

The rest of this week is going to require a lot of focus and productivity. J and I planned a last minute trip over Labor Day weekend and maaaaybe it wasn't the best idea to take a trip the weekend before Renegade Chicago. Yep. Renegade Chicago is Sept. 6+7 and let's just say.....I have just about everything left to do in order to prepare for it. So. Focus. This week. Lots of it. I've been writing to-do lists daily and it's really helping me remember (and accomplish) my tasks. Things have been busy lately for August. I don't know why but I'm very thankful. I must be doing something right! :p

Do you have any fun Labor Day plans? Also, who lives near Chicago and is going to come see me at Renegade?! xo JA

Lately

2014-08-19T15:50:00.001-07:00

(Sign from Signazon)

Lately I've been:

- Working on some fun new card sets to add to the shop.

- Realizing I need to start getting in a Christmas state of mind. (It will be here before we know it!)

- Preparing for a couple travel events in the next coming weekends.

(Phoenix Pop Up Shop - Aug. 23rd - 1137 w McDowell Rd, Phoenix 85007. 10AM-1PM)
(Chicago Renegade - Sept. 6+7 - Wicker Park. 11AM-6PM)

- Slowly making progress on the new Julie Ann Art website. You guys. This shit is hard.

- Getting excited for fall. I am honestly just sick of sweating in our house all day. Gimme some cool air please.

- Still going to cardio barre. I have such a love/hate relationship with it. And it never gets easier, wtf?

- Craving a change with my hair. But the last time I chopped it did not go well so I'm skurred.

- Realizing I'm approaching two big business milestones:
1.) 30k sales in the shop
2.) 2 year anniversary of self-employment
(Wow!)

- Missing blogging, or more-so, the connections it brings. I'd love to hear some blog suggestions in the comments!

-Becoming dangerously addicted to triple espressos on ice. Anyone else prefer the super strong taste of espresso?

- Drooling over our wedding photos. I can't wait to share them with you!

- Feeling so thankful right now. Our lives have been full of lots of love and great people.

- Thinking I should clarify that the above pic was taken soon after a shower. My hair is wet. Not greasy. FYI. ;]

- Wondering if blog readers are still out there. And if so, what's been new with you??

xo JA

Growing Your Business Is More Than Your Sale Count

2014-08-14T09:30:00.002-07:00

Tuesday was a weird day for me. I couldn't figure out what was wrong, I just felt....off? I feel like I have had this feeling on and off for a couple months now. But maybe that is normal. I feel like it's a common misconception that being self-employed, being your own boss, is all good, all the time. Maybe this is because, as business owners, we want to portray that.

The truth is that sometimes there are slow sale days that leaves me wondering what to do. Not that there wasn't anything for me to do, but that I didn't know what I should do.

Let me explain.

If you run a business, you know that there is always something to do. But there are a lot of things to do that don't directly bring you sales. Sometimes it's hard for me to focus on these types of things because it's hard to see the effect they have on my business. But there are really are a lot of things you can do, even though they may not immediately bring you sales, that will definitely improve your business as a whole.

Here's a few things you can do to indirectly help your business when sales are slow:

Don't watch your sale count - Perhaps the most important thing! No good can come from staring down those numbers. "Yay, sales are slow" said no one ever (Ok it's possible I have said this after Valentine's Day madness). Watching sales come in slowly will do nothing for your productivity and if you're like me, possibly stress you out a little bit. Instead of focusing on this, focus on how you can make your business better.

Read blogs - While sitting down and reading may seem like time better spent working, reading blogs is a great way to get inspired. It is especially important to seek inspiration when your shop is in the middle of downtime. Reading what other bloggers are up to can help kick you into gear and make you want to put that newfound passion into your business.

Take new product photos - I recently reshot all of my product photos. It was tedious as hell, I'm not going to lie. But my shop is better for it. And who knows, maybe my new sexy photos will catch a new eye while some one is browsing cards through Etsy's search engine.

Post on social media - Style up a nice photo of your product or your work space and share it with your followers. Even if you may not be really busy, you still want to maintain a presence on social media sites. It's kind of like a long distance friendship. You have to make sure you reach out every once in a while to make sure that relationship continues (even if you feel like you haven't heard from the other friend in weeks!).

Create an idea journal - Now is the time to dream. Dream up those ideas that are going to take your shop out of slow season. You never know what genius thought will come out of a 30 minute brainstorm session. Just start letting those creative juices flow, with no pressure on yourself, and see where it takes you.

Browse Pinterest - Yup. I am telling you to check out the time suck that is Pinterest. Pinterest is actually a valuable resource for seeing "what the people want." Watch what they are pinning, see what is trending. Also, repin! A lot of people get notifications when their pins are repinned. They may come check out your profile (and you have your products pinned right??)

Update your Etsy tags - Just the other day I was adding new cards to the shop (this one is my fav!) and I realized I had some old tags on my products. Think about the time of year it is, what holidays are coming up, what people are searching for right now (Ex: back to school, fall, teacher gifts) and tag your fitting products accordingly.

Write a blog post - Blogging is a great way to connect with others and these relationships can have a huge impact on your business. Think about all the collaborations you've seen between small business owners and bloggers. If you create a friendship with other bloggers they can (and will want to) help you promote your own business.

Being a business owner doesn't mean you have all the answers. It doesn't mean you know exactly what you're doing and you're always doing it. In fact, it brings a lot of uncertainty and self-doubt. It brings over-analyzing the tiniest, most ridiculous little details (at least I'm hoping I'm not the only one who does that). While it's easy to get caught up in things like sales count, remember there is so much more to running a business. Remember the big picture.

Do you have you tips for improving your business during slow season? I'd love to hear! xo JA